Chin up, Cubs fans. The future is bright, and it's beginning to shine.

Prospect Javier Baez hit four home runs and drove in seven Monday in a 9-6 win for High-A Daytona.

Chicago's first round pick in 2011 is now hitting .291 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 57 games this season. He's still striking out a bit more than Cubs brass would like, but with an OPS north of .850, the shortstop is on the right track.

He joins highly-touted prospects Jorge Soler (.278/8/34 at Daytona) and Albert Almora (.425/.455/.563 at Single-A Kane County) as centerpieces for the future.

Mix that with Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and some major renovations at Wrigley Field…the N.L. Central hierarchy could be poised for some serious reshaping over the next few years.

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